Shoe Customization System Having Interchangeable Platens

ABSTRACT

Heat press platens for a shoe customization/decoration system and a method of using the same are disclosed. The platens may be quickly interchanged to allow the same equipment to be used to dye shoes of different sizes. The platens individually accommodate a pair of assembled shoes and are shaped to: reduce print sizes, maintain symmetry and flatness of the shoe, and accommodate a range of shoe sizes. The size and shape of the platens enable one shoe to be fitted on one side of a platen and another shoe to be fitted on the opposite side. The platens position the shoes so that they are mirror images of each other. This positioning allows a single print, including mirror images of the same design, to be applied to two shoes at the same time.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a shoecustomization system and a method of using a shoe customization system.

Multiple systems for varying the size and shape of platens used to printdesigns on articles of clothing have been proposed. Jennings (U.S. Pat.No. 4,901,638) discloses a method and apparatus for silk screen printingthe tops and fronts of completed painter's caps. The apparatus includes:a platen sized and shaped to receive T-shirt fronts; a platen sized andshaped to receive T-shirt sleeves; a platen sized and shaped to receivethe tops of painter's caps; and a platen sized and shaped to receive thefronts of painter's caps. While Jennings discloses platens sized andshaped to receive various articles of clothing, these platens are notsized and shaped to receive assembled shoes. Similarly, the platens arenot sized and shaped to receive multiple articles of clothing on asingle platen. Thus, a drawback to the proposed system of Jennings isthat a single platen cannot be used for printing two articles ofclothing at the same time. Furthermore, the size of the platens proposedby Jennings cannot be adjusted.

Olsen (U.S. Pat. No. 2,291,832) discloses a method and apparatus forcoating a fabric upper of an unassembled shoe with cement. The apparatusincludes two rectangular platens hinged together. The platens are usedto coat an upper of an unassembled shoe with cement. A drawback to theapparatus proposed by Olsen is that it does not include a platen sizedand shaped to receive a pair of shoes. Furthermore, the size of theplatens proposed by Olsen cannot be adjusted.

Systems for decorating the bottoms of assembled shoes have beenproposed. Mussells (U.S. Pat. No. 224,030) discloses a shank channeling,creasing, and coloring machine. The machine includes four shoe-supports,which hold assembled shoes as they are creased, colored, or stamped. Theshoe-supports are attached to the plate by pins and so that they may bereadily replaced with shoe-supports having other shapes or sizes. Adrawback to the system proposed by Mussells is that the shoe-supportsare not sized and shaped to individually receive a pair of assembledshoes. Furthermore, size of the shoe-supports is not adjustable.

SUMMARY

A shoe customization system and a method of using the same aredisclosed. In one aspect, the shoe customization system may include aheat press device having a flat press surface, a first curved edge, asecond curved edge opposite the first curved edge, and a firstconnecting edge connecting the first curved edge to the second curvededge. A first shoe receiving portion may be configured to receive ashoe. The first shoe receiving portion may be bounded by part of thefirst curved edge, part of the second curved edge, and the firstconnecting edge. A second shoe receiving portion may be configured toreceive a shoe. The second shoe receiving portion may be disposedopposite the first shoe receiving portion.

In another aspect, the shoe customization system may include a heatpress device having a flat press surface, a first edge, a second edgeopposite the first edge, a third edge connecting the first edge to thesecond edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge. The distancebetween the third edge and the fourth edge may taper from the first edgeto the second edge. The heat press device may further include a firstshoe receiving portion configured to receive a shoe. The first shoereceiving portion may be bounded by part of the first edge, part of thesecond edge, and the third edge.

In another aspect, the shoe customization system may include a heatpress machine having a first quick connect mechanism and a heat pressdevice configured to be connected to the heat press machine. The heatpress device may include a flat press surface, a first edge, a secondedge opposite the first edge, and a third edge connecting the first edgeto the second edge. The heat press device may further include a firstshoe receiving portion configured to receive a shoe. The first shoereceiving portion may be bounded by part of the first edge, part of thesecond edge, and the third edge. The heat press device may furtherinclude a second quick connect mechanism configured to connect to thefirst quick connect mechanism.

In another aspect, a method of customizing a shoe may include loading afirst shoe on a first shoe receiving portion of a heat press device,loading a second shoe on a second shoe receiving portion of the heatpress device, connecting the heat press device to a heat press machine,placing a design on top of the first shoe and the second shoe, andpressing a heat plate of the heat press machine on top of the first shoeand the second shoe.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention willbe, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following figures and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description and this summary, bewithin the scope of the invention, and be protected by the followingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of two platens disposed on a heatpress machine;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a platen from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an perspective view of the top of the platen from FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the platen from FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of the platen from FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is the press machine from FIG. 1 with a platen removed to exposea quick connect plate;

FIG. 7 is the press machine from FIG. 1 with shoes loaded on a platenand a design to be printed on the shoes.

FIG. 8 is the press machine from FIG. 7 with the design overlying theshoes.

FIG. 9 is the press machine from FIG. 7 with the heat press platepressing down on the shoes.

FIG. 10 is the press machine from FIG. 7 after the shoes have beenprinted on.

FIG. 11 is an exemplary embodiment of multiple platens having differentsizes.

FIG. 12 is a view of the platens from FIG. 11 stacked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of two heat press platens disposedon a heat press machine 100. Heat press machine 100 comprises a base 102and a top heat plate 104 connected to base 102 by an arm 106 having ahandle 108. A first platen 110 may be connected to base at one end and asecond platen 112 may be connected to base 102 at the opposite end. Asdiscussed in detail below, first and second platens 110, 112 may havethe same components and may be interchangeable. Arm 106 may be connectedto base 102 so that it slides top heat plate 104 from a first positionoverlying first platen 110 to a second position overlying second platen112. Top heat plate 104 may be vertically displaced by pulling handle108 forward about a pivot point 114. The operation of using heat pressmachine 100 and platens to print on shoes will be discussed withreference to FIGS. 7-10 below. Heat press machine 100 is merelyexemplary. First and second platens 110, 112 may be used with any othersimilar type of heat press machine. For example, first and secondplatens 110, 112 may be used interchangeably on a heat press machinethat receives one platen at a time.

FIG. 2 is a top view of platen 110 and FIG. 3 is a perspective view ofthe top of platen 110. Platen may be formed with a first edge 216, asecond edge 218 opposite first edge 216, a third edge 220, and a fourthedge 222 opposite third edge 220. First edge 216 and second edge 218 maybe curved in the same direction. Third edge 220 and fourth edge 222 maybe straight. The width of platen 110 defined by third edge 220 andfourth edge 222 may be tapered from first edge 216 to second edge 218. Afirst protrusion 224 may extend from first edge 216 and a secondprotrusion 226 may extend from second edge 218. As described in detailwith reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 below, first protrusion 224 and secondprotrusion 226 may provide slots for connecting platen 110 to heat pressmachine 100.

Platen 110 may be made of metal or any other material suitable for heatpressing. A pad 228 may be shaped to cover a flat press surface ofplaten 110 to provide padding beneath the shoe material being printedon. Pad 228 may be made of silicone or any other material capable ofproviding padding while withstanding high heat and pressure. Pad mayinclude adhesive backing or adhesive may be applied to pad 228 or platen110 for attachment. In some embodiments, pad 228 may be omitted.

Platen 110 may include a first shoe receiving portion 230 and a secondshoe receiving portion 232. Platen 110 may be symmetrical aboutlongitudinal axis 234 such that first shoe receiving portion 230 andsecond shoe receiving portion 232 may be mirror images of one another.Thus, when a pair of shoes is loaded on platen 110, the shoes may bemirror images of one another. This positioning allows a single print,including mirror images of the same design, to be applied to two shoesat the same time. First shoe receiving portion 230 may be bounded bypart of first edge 216, part of second edge 218, and third edge 220.Second shoe receiving portion may be bounded by part of first edge 216,part of second edge 218, and fourth edge 222.

FIG. 2 shows a first pair of shoe outlines 236, a second pair of shoeoutlines 238, and a third pair of shoe outlines 240 to demonstrate how apair of shoes may be arranged on first shoe receiving portion 230 andsecond shoe receiving portion 232. First pair of shoe outlines 236,second pair of shoe outlines 238, and third pair of shoe outlines 240each represents a different shoe size demonstrating how a single platenmay accommodate a range of shoe sizes. A first piston spring tensionerand a second piston spring tensioner may be provided to further aid inaccommodating a range of shoe sizes. First piston spring tensioner mayinclude a first piston head 242 and a first rod 244. First piston springtensioner may further include a first coil spring 246 disposed aroundfirst rod 244. Second piston spring tensioner may include a secondpiston head 248 and a second rod 250. Second piston spring tensioner mayfurther include a second coil spring 252 disposed around second rod 250.More details of first and second spring tensioners are discussed withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5 below.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of print surface outlines 254 reveal wherethe print may appear on the shoes loaded on platen 110, as well as wheretop heat plate 104 may contact first shoe receiving portion 230 andsecond shoe receiving portion 232. The shape of first shoe receivingportion 230 and second shoe receiving portion 232 allows a large portionof a pair of shoes to be flattened by top heat plate 104, and thusprinted on. Platen 110 may be tapered along the longitudinal axis 243 tominimize the print paper size while centering the print surfaces of theshoes (indicated by print surface outlines 254) beneath top heat plate104. The print size may be reduced because the tapering minimizes thespace between the two shoes being printed on, as demonstrated by theposition of first pair of shoe outlines 236, second pair of shoeoutlines 238, and third pair of shoe outlines 240. Tapering may alsoposition the print surfaces of the shoes (indicated by print surfaceoutlines 254) so that the print surfaces may lie beneath the center oftop heat plate 104 during heat pressing. Positioning the shoes beneaththe center of top heat plate 104 may improve heat transfer and pressureduring heat pressing. Additionally, this positioning may limittemperature loss experienced at the edges of top heat plate 104. As aresult of tapering, the size of platen 110 may be minimized.

The shape of platen 110 may allow left and right shoes to beinterchangeably received on platen 110 to print on both lateral andmedial sides of a pair of shoes. For example, first shoe receivingportion 230 may receive a right shoe and second shoe receiving portion232 may receive a left shoe, as indicated by first pair of shoe outlines236, second pair of shoe outlines 238, and third pair of shoe outlines240, to print on the lateral sides of a pair of shoes. Then, the leftshoe may be moved to the first shoe receiving portion 230 and the rightshoe may be moved to the second shoe receiving portion 232 to print onthe medial sides of the pair of shoes.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of platen 110 and FIG. 5 is a perspective viewof the bottom of platen 110. As mentioned above, platen 110 includesfirst and second piston spring tensioners. First rod 244 of first pistonspring tensioner may be connected to platen 110 by a first bracket 456and a second bracket 458. First coil spring 246 may be disposed aroundfirst rod 244 between second bracket 458 and first piston head 242.Second rod 250 may be connected to platen 110 by a third bracket 460 anda fourth bracket 462. Second coil spring 252 may be disposed aroundsecond rod 250 between fourth bracket 462 and second piston head 248. Asshown by the placement of first pair of shoe outlines 236, second pairof shoe outlines 238, and third pair of shoe outlines 240 in FIG. 2,first piston head 242 and second piston head 248 may rest against a toeof shoes. First coil springs 246 may bias first piston head 242 andsecond coil spring 252 may bias second piston heads 248 against the toeof shoes to create longitudinal tension in the shoes. This tension mayenhance the flattening of shoes against platen 110 to facilitate evenprinting on the shoes. The spring-biasing of first and second pistonspring tensioners may also improve the adjustability of platen by aidingthe platen in receiving a range of shoe sizes. In some embodiments,first coil spring 246 and second coil spring 252 may be replaced byother mechanisms for biasing first piston head 242 and second pistonhead 248 against the toes of shoes. In some embodiments, piston springtensioners may be omitted.

The bottom of platen 110 may include quick connect mechanisms forquickly connecting platen to base. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and5, the quick connect mechanisms may include a first T-slot, a secondT-slot, and a shallow hole 464 disposed along longitudinal axis 234. Insome embodiments, the quick connect mechanisms may include a singleT-slot and a shallow hole. In some embodiments, the quick connectmechanisms may include a plurality of shallow holes. In someembodiments, the quick connect mechanisms may include different types ofmechanisms configured to connect with various types of heat pressmachines.

The first T-slot may be formed by a first circular hole 466 and a firstslot 468. The second T-slot may be formed by a second circular hole 470and a second slot 472. Shallow hole 464 may be shallower than firstand/or second T-slots. In some embodiments, shallow hole 464 may be atthe same depth as the first and/or second T-slots. In some embodiments,shallow hole 464 may include a hole having a depth that is deeper thanthe first and/or second T-Slots.

FIG. 6 shows press machine 100 from FIG. 1 with platen 110 removed toexpose a quick connect plate 674. Quick connect plate 674 may includequick connect mechanisms complimentary to the quick connect mechanismsof platen 110. The quick connect plate 674 may include a first circularhead 676, a second circular head 678, and a retractable button 680.First circular head 676 and second circular heads 678 may be connectedto quick connect plate 674 by a first neck 682 and a second neck 684,respectively.

To connect platen 110 to quick connect plate 674 as shown in FIG. 1,platen 110 may be placed on top of quick connect plate 674 so that firstcircular hole 468 and second circular hole 470 line up with firstcircular head 676 and second circular head 678, respectively. When firstcircular head 676 and second circular head 678 are inserted into firstcircular hole 468 and second circular hole 470, platen 110 may be pushedalong longitudinal axis 234 so that first neck 682 slides within firstslot 468 and second neck 684 slides within second slot 472 untilretractable button 680 may be inserted into shallow hole 464. In thisposition, first slot 468 and second slot 472 and retractable button 680may prevent platen from moving in a direction transverse to longitudinalaxis 234. Retractable button 680 may further prevent platen 110 frommoving along longitudinal axis 234.

Quick connect plate 674 may further include a knob 686 for releasingretractable button 686 from shallow hole 464. To disconnect platen 110,knob 686 may be pulled down to withdraw retractable button 686 fromwithin shallow hole 464 as platen 110 may be pushed along longitudinalaxis 234 until first circular hole 468 and second circular hole 470 lineup with first circular head 676 and second circular head 678,respectively. Then, platen 110 may be lifted and removed from pressmachine 100.

The quick connect mechanisms on platen 110 may allow platen 110 to bequickly interchanged with another platen. Thus, platen 110 may bereplaced with a platen of a different size and/or platen 110 may bereplaced with a preloaded platen. For example, while a first pair ofshoes loaded on platen 110 may be being printed on, a second platen maybe loaded with second pair of shoes. Then, when printing on the firstpair of shoes is complete, platen 110 may be quickly replaced with thesecond platen. And as the second pair of shoes is being printed on thesecond platen, platen 110 may be loaded with a third pair of shoes.

The quick connect mechanisms shown in FIGS. 4-6 are merely exemplaryembodiments. In some embodiments, the size, shape, and location of thequick connect mechanisms may be altered. In other embodiments, differenttypes of quick connect mechanisms may be provided for connection betweenplaten 110 and quick connect plate 674. For example, platen 110 may beused with another type of press machine. In this situation, the quickconnect mechanisms provided on platen 110 may be altered to correspondwith the quick connect mechanism provided on the press machine thatplaten 110 is being used with.

FIGS. 7-9 demonstrate a method of using press machine 100 and platen 110to print on a pair of shoes. FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a right shoe788 mounted on first shoe receiving portion 230 and a left shoe 790mounted on second shoe receiving portion 232. As discussed above withreference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, first piston head 242 and second pistonhead 248 may press against the toes of right shoe 788 and left shoe 790to create longitudinal tension in right shoe 788 and left shoe 790. Thetension may enhance the flattening of the lateral sides of right shoe788 and left shoe 790 against the flat press surface of platen 110. Theshoes may be mounted on platen 110 before platen 110 is mounted on quickconnect plate 674, as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 4-6.Alternatively, platen 110 may be connected to press machine 100 beforeloading right shoe 788 and left shoe 790 onto platen 110.

FIG. 7 further shows a piece of transfer paper 892 with an argyle design894 to be printed on right shoe 788 and left shoe 790. Argyle design 894may be printed in dye sublimation ink on a piece of sublimation transferpaper. In some embodiments, any other known type of ink and/or transferpaper may be used. Argyle design 894 may be replaced with any design.

FIG. 8 shows transfer paper 892 placed over right shoe 788 and left shoe790. Argyle design 894 may be positioned over right shoe 788 and leftshoe 790 where argyle design 894 is to be printed. Then, top heat plate104 may be slid from first end of base 102 to second end of base 102 sothat it may be positioned over argyle design 894 and platen 110. Asshown in FIG. 9, while top heat plate 104 is positioned over argyledesign 894 and platen 110, handle 108 may be pulled forward so that topheat plate 104 may be lowered onto argyle design 894. Top heat plate 104may be heated and may press argyle design 894 down against right shoe788 and left shoe 790, thus printing argyle design 894 onto right shoe788 and left shoe 790.

FIG. 10 shows right shoe 788 and left shoe 790 after argyle design 894is printed on lateral sides of right shoe 788 and left shoe 790. Toprint on the medial sides of right shoe 788 and left shoe 790, rightshoe 788 may be moved to second shoe receiving portion 232 and left shoe790 may be moved to first shoe receiving portion 230. Then, theabove-described method of using press machine 100 and platen 110 toprint on a pair of shoes may be performed.

FIG. 11 shows exemplary embodiments of platens in different sizes suchthat each platen may accommodate a range of shoe sizes. A small platen1200 may accommodate sizes 4 through 6, a medium platen 1202 mayaccommodate sizes 7 through 9, and a large platen 1204 may accommodatesizes 10 through 13. While a single platen may accommodate a wide rangeof shoe sizes, a more precise fit can be achieved by providing multipleplatens each sized to accommodate a small range of shoe sizes. In someembodiments, a single platen may be used to accommodate all shoes sizes.In other embodiments, more sizes of platens may be used to provide amore precise fit for each shoe size. For example, each individual platenmay be sized to accommodate a single shoe size. In another example, theplatens may be sized as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 11 anda fourth platen may be provided to accommodate sizes 14-16.

Small platen 1200, medium platen 1202, and large platen 1204 may havethe same components as platen 110 shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 6-11. As shownin FIG. 11, small platen 1200 may have a first protrusion 1206, a secondprotrusion 1208, a first piston spring tensioner, and a second pistonspring tensioner. The first piston spring tensioner may include a firstpiston head 1210 and a first rod 1212. The first piston spring tensionermay further include a first coil spring 1214 disposed around first rod1212. The second piston spring tensioner may include a second pistonhead 1216 and a second rod 1218. The second piston spring tensioner mayfurther include a second coil spring 1220 disposed around second rod1218.

Medium platen 1202 may have a first protrusion 1222, a second protrusion1224, a first piston spring tensioner, and a second piston springtensioner. The first piston spring tensioner may include a first pistonhead 1226 and a first rod 1228. The first piston spring tensioner mayfurther include a first coil spring 1230 disposed around first rod 1228.The second piston spring tensioner may include a second piston head 1232and a second rod 1234. The second piston spring tensioner may furtherinclude a second coil spring 1236 disposed around second rod 1234.

Large platen 1204 may have a first protrusion 1238, a second protrusion1240, a first piston spring tensioner, and a second piston springtensioner. The first piston spring tensioner may include a first pistonhead 1242 and a first rod 1244. The first piston spring tensioner mayfurther include a first coil spring 1246 disposed around first rod 1244.The second piston spring tensioner may include a second piston head 1248and a second rod 1250. The second piston spring tensioner may furtherinclude a second coil spring 1252 disposed around second rod 1250.

As shown in FIG. 11, in addition to small platen 1200, medium platen1202, and large platen 1204 differing in size, the components of smallplaten 1200, medium platen 1202, and large platen 1204 may also differin size. The sizes of the components may differ to further aid inaccommodating a range of shoe sizes. For example, as the platensincrease in size to accommodate larger shoe sizes, the piston heads mayalso increase in size. Small platen 1200 may include small piston heads,medium platen 1202 may include medium piston heads, and large piston1204 may include large piston heads. Similarly, the length of rods maycorrespond with the size of the platens. For example, small platen 1200may have a short rod, medium platen 1202 may have a medium rod, andlarge platen 1204 may have a long rod.

The first and second protrusions of small platen 1200, medium platen1202, and large platen 1204 may be sized to position the shallow holeand the first circular hole in a location corresponding with the firstcircular head and the retractable button of the quick connect plate, asdiscussed with reference to FIGS. 4-6 above. In some embodiments, thesize and shape of the protrusions may vary depending on the type ofquick connect mechanisms provided on the platen and the press machine.In some embodiments, the protrusions may be eliminated entirely and thequick connect mechanisms may be provided in another location of theplatens.

FIG. 12 shows small platen 1200, medium platen 1202, and large platen1204 stacked. The piston spring tensioners of small platen 1200, mediumplaten 1202, and large platen 1204 have been removed in this view. Smallplaten 1200 is shown with a first print surface outline 1254 for a size4 shoe. Medium platen 1202 is shown with a second print surface outline1256 for a size 9 shoe. Large platen 1204 is shown with a third printsurface outline 1258 for a size 13 shoe. Similar to platen 110 shown inFIGS. 1-5, small platen 1200 may have a first edge 1260 and a secondedge 1262, medium platen 1202 may have a first edge 1264 and a secondedge 1266, and large platen 1204 may have a first edge 1268 and a secondedge 1270. In FIG. 12, small platen 1200, medium platen 1202, and largeplaten 1204 are stacked with first edges aligned to show how thedifferent sizes of platens and shoe prints compare. While the sizes ofsmall platen 1200, medium platen 1202, and large platen 1204 differ, thegeneral shape of the platens may remain the same.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, thedescription is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and itwill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restrictedexcept in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also,various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of theattached claims.

1. A heat press device for printing a design on a pair of shoes,comprising: a flat press surface; a first curved edge; a second curvededge opposite the first curved edge; a first connecting edge connectingthe first curved edge to the second curved edge; a first shoe receivingportion configured to receive a shoe, wherein the first shoe receivingportion is bounded by part of the first curved edge, part of the secondcurved edge, and the first connecting edge; and a second shoe receivingportion configured to receive a shoe, wherein the second shoe receivingportion is disposed opposite the first shoe receiving portion.
 2. Theheat press device according to claim 1, wherein the second shoereceiving portion is a mirror image of the first shoe receiving portion.3. The heat press device according to claim 1, further comprising atleast two piston spring tensioners.
 4. The heat press device accordingto claim 3, wherein the at least two piston spring tensioners comprise apiston head.
 5. The heat press device according to claim 3, wherein theat least two piston spring tensioners comprise a spring.
 6. The heatpress device according to claim 1, wherein the first curved edge and thesecond curved edge are curved in substantially the same direction. 7.The heat press device according to claim 1, wherein the first curvededge is longer than the second curved edge.
 8. The heat press deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a quick connect mechanismconfigured to connect the heat press device to a heat press machine. 9.A heat press device for printing a design on a pair of shoes,comprising: a flat press surface; a first edge; a second edge oppositethe first edge; a third edge connecting the first edge to the secondedge; a fourth edge opposite the third edge, wherein the distancebetween the third edge and the fourth edge tapers from the first edge tothe second edge; and a first shoe receiving portion configured toreceive a shoe, wherein the first shoe receiving portion is bounded bypart of the first edge, part of the second edge, and the third edge. 10.The heat press device according to claim 9, wherein the first and secondedges are curved.
 11. The heat press device according to claim 10,further comprising a second shoe receiving portion configured to receivea shoe.
 12. The heat press device according to claim 11, furthercomprising at least two piston spring tensioners.
 13. The heat pressdevice according to claim 12, wherein the at least two piston springtensioners extend past the second edge.
 14. The heat press deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the at least two piston spring tensionersextend in a direction parallel to the third and fourth edges.
 15. Theheat press device according to claim 11, further comprising a quickconnect mechanism configured to connect the heat press device to a heatpress machine.
 16. The heat press device according to claim 11, furthercomprising at least one protrusion.
 17. The heat press device accordingto claim 16, further comprising a quick connect mechanism disposed onthe at least one protrusion and configured to connect the heat pressdevice to a heat press machine.
 18. A kit of parts, comprising: aplurality of heat press devices according to claim
 9. 19. A shoecustomization system, comprising: a heat press machine having a firstquick connect mechanism; a heat press device configured to be connectedto the heat press machine, comprising: a flat press surface; a firstedge; a second edge opposite the first edge; a third edge connecting thefirst edge to the second edge; a first shoe receiving portion configuredto receive a shoe, wherein the first shoe receiving portion is boundedby part of the first edge, part of the second edge, and the third edge;and a second quick connect mechanism configured to connect to the firstquick connect mechanism.
 20. The shoe customization system according toclaim 19, wherein the heat press device further comprises a second shoereceiving portion opposite the first shoe receiving portion.
 21. Theshoe customization system according to claim 20, wherein the second shoereceiving portion is a mirror image of the first shoe receiving portion.22. The shoe customization system according to claim 19, wherein theheat press machine further comprises a heat plate.
 23. A method ofcustomizing a shoe, comprising: loading a first shoe on a first shoereceiving portion of a heat press device; loading a second shoe on asecond shoe receiving portion of the heat press device; connecting theheat press device to a heat press machine; placing a design on top ofthe first shoe and the second shoe; and pressing a heat plate of theheat press machine on top of the first shoe and the second shoe.
 24. Themethod according to claim 23, further comprising replacing the heatpress device with a second heat press device.
 25. The method accordingto claim 23, connecting the heat press device to the heat press machineincludes placing the heat press device over the heat press machine andsliding the heat press device until the heat press device connects withthe heat press machine.